by Fronetics | Oct 9, 2018 | Blog, Content Marketing, Logistics, Marketing, Social Media, Supply Chain
Instagram for business is a rising trend. Here’s how to use the platform to connect with your audience in a personal way.
Recent research on social media use shows that 66% of brands now use Instagram. It’s the second-most used platform by businesses, up from fourth in 2017.
[bctt tweet=”Recent research on social media use shows that 66% of brands now use Instagram. It’s the second-most used platform by businesses, up from fourth in 2017.” username=”Fronetics”]
If you’re considering using Instagram for your business, which you should be, here are some tips for getting started.
How to use Instagram for business: 10 tips
1) Be authentic
Brands often fall into the trap of using stock photography and images or overly staged promotional pictures. The ethos of Instagram is all about authenticity and personality. Let your audience get an up close and personal glimpse into your company’s culture.
2) Go live
Live video is the “it” trend in social media marketing, with 61% of marketers reporting that they plan on adding it to their overall strategy. Audiences love real-time content, and it lets them feel a genuine, human connection — the creation of which sometimes poses a challenge for B2B marketers.
3) Keep up the pace
Instagram is one of the easiest social media platforms to post on. That means you can quickly snap photos wherever you are — say, at a conference or event, or even on your way into the office — and publish it instantly. This is great for reaching the coveted millennial audience, which seems to have an unquenchable thirst for consuming content, particularly images and graphics.
4) Get in the “in crowd”
As with every social media channel, what you post is important. But it’s just as important that you participate in the wider conversation going on within your industry. This means replying to your community when they leave responses and interacting with peer businesses and influencers’ posts.
5) Use the link in your bio
A frequent challenge for new Instagram users is that the platform doesn’t allow you to link from the captions of posts. You get once chance to link, and it’s in your bio. You can vary the link as you promote specific content or product offers, and you can even use tools like Linktree to create a custom link that includes a page with additional links.
6) Be a storyteller
Instagram is all about visual storytelling. Your posts should do more than promote your brand — they should be drawing in your audience with narrative told through a visual format. Instagram Stories are an ideal way to engage your audience!
7) Try a takeover
Taking over the Instagram account of a partner company or customer is a great way to draw attention from an existing and relevant audience, providing mutual benefits to both parties.
8) Get personal
Go in deep and personal with your customers by answering their questions via 10-second videos. You let your viewers feel like they’re being heard. Plus, short videos are ideal for reposting.
9) Deliver special offers
Instagram is a great way to give special offers to your followers who tune in to your Stories. The time-sensitive feature (Stories expire after 24 hours) urges prospects to engage with your Story and act quickly before the offer expires.
10) Out of ideas? Just ask!
Survey your followers by posting a graphic of some options for future content or offers but leave it open-ended as well. Be sure to respond to suggestions in direct messages or comments. You may get some great ideas you never would have considered!
How do you use Instagram for business?
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by Fronetics | Sep 4, 2018 | Blog, Content Marketing, Logistics, Marketing, Social Media, Supply Chain
Live video is a powerful tool that can help your supply chain business grow its social media footprint, build brand awareness, and generate leads.
Live video is the super-hot new thing when it comes to generating leads and selling. But the supply chain has, so far, been hesitant to embrace it whole-heartedly as a marketing tool.
I can understand how you might find this new content format too “young” or consumer-facing for B2B sales. But at Fronetics, we think if done right, live video can be really effective.
What is live video?
Maybe you’ve gotten a notification on Facebook to let you know that your nephew is live streaming his piano recital, or a college friend is “live” at a wedding. But, let’s face it: Not many supply chain companies are using live video in their social media marketing. So you may not have thought about it in a professional context.
This “it’ trend in social media has really taken off in the past two years, and marketers are starting to jump on the bandwagon. With today’s emphasis on corporate transparency and putting a real, human face behind business social media accounts, live video is a perfect fit. In fact according to the 2017 Social Media Marketing Industry Report, 61% of marketers plan on using live video services, and 69% are interested in learning more about it.
[bctt tweet=”61% of marketers plan on using live video services, and 69% are interested in learning more about it, according to the 2017 Social Media Marketing Industry Report.” username=”Fronetics”]
These are the 4 live video platforms you should be aware of.
1. Facebook Live
Facebook’s live streaming platform lets you broadcast for up to 90 minutes per session, and notifies your audience that you’re streaming live. It also allows viewers to comment and react during your broadcast, and you can read and respond to their remarks immediately.
2. Periscope
Twitter’s answer to live video, Periscope has more than 10 million users, and lets user live stream from their mobile devices and push those streams directly onto Twitter.
3. Instagram Live
Instagram lets users connect to their followers in real time, through its Stories feature. Like Facebook, Instagram lets viewers add real-time comments that are visible to you and the rest of your audience.
4. YouTube Live
Online streaming video juggernaut YouTube makes it incredibly easy to aim, shoot, and post live video.
How to use live video
Michael Stelzner of Social Media Examiner recently interviewed income strategist and Facebook Live-guru Nicole Walters on the Social Media Marketing Podcast. Walters gave listeners clever tips for using live video to build a following and generate leads. We recommend giving the podcast a listen, but read on for our key takeaways.
Walters advocates for spontaneity in live video but suggests having a format or framework to give you structure and ensure that you’re sticking to your goal of generating leads. Her format is in three parts:
Part One: The Opener
In your introduction, which should be about 30-45 seconds, Walters suggests starting with your name, website, and a brief sentence to give your audience an overview of who your business is and what your video is about. Next, be sure to welcome your audience, perhaps with a special shout-out to new viewers, as well as regulars. Walters also encourages viewers to share her video and to interact with her as she broadcasts.
Part Two: Instructional Content
This is the meat of your video and typically lasts up to 30 minutes. Start by introducing the topic you’re presenting on and why it’s important. Walters also suggests encouraging viewers to take notes, with the rationale that notetaking leads to engaged viewers. If you’re launching a product or service (a great use of live video), you’ll want to cover the need you’re answering with your launch and how your product or service will solve it.
Walters points out that while she prepares extensively for her broadcasts, she avoids reading directly from a piece of paper, as it could easily get impersonal and boring. Instead, she gives herself a cheat-sheet of bullet points to keep her on track.
Part Three: Call-to-Action
This is the final stage of your live video, in which you send your viewers to a page where they can either pay or submit information to receive additional, high-value content (like e-books, webinars, etc.). Walters might say, “If you love this and want to dive in and get the details you need, then head over to NicoleWalters.tv. If you click the center of the page, you’ll find the product… I’ll be right here if you have questions. But come back and tell me you grabbed it.”
Live video offers all kinds of potential value for supply chain marketing. From customer engagement and feedback to transparency and brand awareness, this is a tool for the future of supply chain marketing.
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